Laceless corset.



J. H. MITCHELL.

LAcELEssconsET. 4

APPLICATION FILED APR.4.1918.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

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JOHN H. MITCHELL, OF NORTHAMPTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

LAGELESS CORSET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

Application led April 4, 1918. Serial 1\T o. 226,618.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Northampton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Laceless Corsets, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to corsets and similar wearing apparel, and aims to provide a corset having novel and improved means of adjustment and closure, eliminating altogether the use of the troublesome lacing now in vogue, and at the same time enhancing the utility and comfort of the corset.

It is the object of the invention to provide a corset, which although laceless, has a wide range of adjustment to suit various forms, the adjustment being easily obtained and changed at will, without the inconvenience of the usual lacing.

A further object is the provision of a sim? ple, compact, and eliecient adjustable and detachable connection between the flaps of the corset to produce the desired results in a most convenient manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of the parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corset embodying the present improvements, a portion being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

The body 1 of the corset, which can be of any suitable material and size, is provided along the vertical edges of its flaps, with the stays or boning 2 and 3 inclosed within the respective hems 4: and 5 with which said edges are provided. The stay or boning 2 is of the type known in the trade as Spirilla, being of zig-zag or like construction in order to be exible in all directions, and conform to various conditions, shapes and strains. This type of flexible stay is preferably used to render the improvements more effective.

The adjustable connection is between the stays 2 and 3 of the corset flaps, and embodies outstanding headed studs 6 secured to the stay 3, which can be of the ordinary strip-like form, for the engagement of sub` stantially horizontal cross strips or tongues 7 that are fastened to the stay 2. The strip 7 and studs 6 are located at suitable vertically spaced points of the corset, and said strips are curved slightly to fit the body comfortably and are also preferably slightly resilient but relatively stilf to yield when necessary and return to their fixed position. One terminal of each strip is bent or looped around the stay 2, as at 8, and is fastened securely or rigidly thereto by means of rivets 9 or the like engaging through the doubled terminal of the strip and clamping the stay therein. The strip 7 is preferably offset, as at 10, at the edge of the stay 2. Each of the strips 7 is provided with a longitudinal row of key-hole shaped apertures 11 for the reception and engagement of the rcspective headed stud 6, thereby providing an adjustable and detachable connection. Thus, in applying the corset, the stays 2 and 3 are moved toward one another and the strips 7 are engaged with the headed studs 6 one at a time, and the desired adjustment is obtained at the various vertical points by engaging the respective studs 6 in the various apertures 11. When the body l is drawn tight at each point, the headed stud 6 can readily pass through one of they apertures 11 of the respective strip 7, the strip being readily pulled or moved across the head of the stud, and when the parts are let go, the slight expansion of the corset will move the headed stud 6 into the tail of the aperture 11 thereby locking the parts. The strips 7 and studs 6 therefore not only provide a detachable connection for the ready application and removal of the corset, but also provide for circumferential adjustment at the different vertical points, without the inconvenience of the usual lacing. The flexibility of the stay 2 enables said stay to yield, in order to facilitate the adjustable engagement of the strips 7 with the studs 6, and furthermore, such eXibility provides more of an individual adjustment of each strip.

As a matter of protection, a flap l2 of suitable material is sewed or otherwise as at 13, to the body l adjacent to the stay 2 at the inner side, and is arranged to extend across the space between the stays 2 and 3- fastened,

and to overlap the opposite edge portion on the inside, so as to prevent the strips 7 from coming into contact with or injuring the body of the wearer.

The free ends of the strips or tongues 7 overlap that edge portion of the corset having the stay 3, and to prevent said ends of the strips from interfering with or injuring the external garments, a flap 14 of suitable material is sewed or otherwise fastened, as at 15, to the body 1, at a point suitably spaced from the stay 3, said flap being on the exterior of the body 1 and extending to the stay 3. Said flap 14 when moved into place, as seen in Fig. 2, covers the free ends of the strips 7, and they are therefore concealed. The free edge portion of the flap 14 is provided at vertically spaced points With clasps or snap-fasteners 16 that are adapted to be shaped into engagement with and inclose or cover the protruding heads of the studs 6, whereby the iiap 14 is held in place.

To remove the corset, the clasps or fasteners 16 can be readily disengaged from the studs 6 and the flap 14 turned out of the Way. Then, by pressing the stays 2 and 3 toward one another and moving the strips T outwardly, said strips can be disengaged from the studs one at a time. It will also be noted that the present construction permits the body 1 to be readily readjusted While worn, the same being readily contracted or loosened at the various vertical points by detaching the desired strips 7 and then reengaging them with the studs 6 after adjustment.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A corset having stays at its vertical edges, vertically spaced outstanding headed studs and cross strips secured to said stays, the cross strips each having a rovv of keyhole-shaped apertures longitudinally thereof for the passage therethrough of the respective stud, to permit of the adjustable engagement of each individualcross strip with its stud, the cross strips being relatively stiff and rigid with their stay so as to remain in proper fixed position With said stay to pass in front of the respective studs when the corset is applied and the stays moved toward one another, and so as to hold the stays in relative position when the cross strips are engaged with the studs, in various adjustments, the stay of the cross strips being flexible toward and away from the stay of the studs, so that it can assume various irregular lines and in order that the stays can` be spaced apart varying distances at the several cross strips in the various adjustments thereof.

2. A corset having stays at its vertical edges, vertically spaced outstanding headed studs and cross strips secured to Vsaid stays, the cross strips each having a row of keyhole-shaped apertures longitudinally thereof for the passage therethrough of the respective stud, to permitof the adjustable engage'- ment of each individual cross strip With its stud, the cross strips being relatively sti andV rigid with their stay so as toV remain in proper iixed position with said stay to pass in front of the respective studs when the corset is applied and the stays moved toward one another, and so as to hold the stays in relative position When the cross strips are engaged With the studs in various adjustments, a flap to cover portions of said cross strips, and snap fasteners carried by said flap to snap over the heads of the studs after the cross strips are engaged with the studs, for holding the flap in place and for also -pre-V venting accidental detachment of the cross strips from the studs.

J lOil-IN H. MITCHELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .Patents,V

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